Celeron 2961Y vs Pentium B970

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Celeron 2961Y vs Pentium B970 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Celeron 2961Y vs Pentium B970: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Celeron 2961Y

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Haswell), while Pentium B970 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,085 vs 1,093).
❌1362.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 35W.

Pentium B970

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 512W, a 477W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $125 MSRP, while Celeron 2961Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron 2961Y can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium B970 better than Celeron 2961Y?

Yes. Pentium B970 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium B970 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% more average FPS across 41 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium B970 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium B970 is the better buy right now. Pentium B970 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $125 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron 2961Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Celeron 2961Y vs Pentium B970 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Celeron 2961Y

The Celeron 2961Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 1.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,085 points. Launch price was $107.

Pentium B970

The Pentium B970 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,093 points. Launch price was $125.

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Processing Power

Both the Celeron 2961Y and Pentium B970 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.1 GHz on the Celeron 2961Y versus 2.3 GHz on the Pentium B970 — a 70.6% clock advantage for the Pentium B970 (base: 1.1 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Celeron 2961Y uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium B970 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2961Y scores 1,085 against the Pentium B970's 1,093 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium B970. Both processors carry 2 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Celeron 2961Y	Pentium B970
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.1 GHz	2.3 GHz+109%
Base Clock	1.1 GHz	2.3 GHz+109%
L3 Cache	2 MB (total)	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm-31%	32 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,085	1,093

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Memory & Platform

The Celeron 2961Y uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium B970 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Celeron 2961Y	Pentium B970
Socket	FCBGA1168	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	12	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron 2961Y) / not specified (Pentium B970). The Celeron 2961Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Pentium B970 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2961Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2961Y rivals Pentium 2117U.